Florida Boy Scouts Leader Arrested For Sexual Battery Against 3 Boys
Florida Boy Scouts Leader Arrested For Sexual Battery of Children After 3 Boys Speak Out
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Florida Boy Scouts of America executive last week. Police arrested John Bruce Larsen on two counts of sexual battery on a child less than 12 years of age. They also charged Larsen with two counts of sexual battery on a child while in familial or custodial authority. In addition, prosecutors also charged him with four counts of lewd molestation of children under the age of 12.
Orlando NBC affiliate WESH states that Larsen was arrested in Volusia County. However, the arrest report issued by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has Larsen’s name heavily redacted.
Detectives interviewed three boys who allege Larsen sexually abused over an unidentified period of time.
Two of the alleged victims are reportedly brothers.
The arrest report obtained by Orlando FOX affiliate WOFL states one of the brothers told his mother:
Larsen has been touching him and performing sexual acts on him since he was approximately eight years old.
The boy’s brother also said Larsen touched sexually multiple times while he was at Larsen’s home.
The mother told law enforcement she was unaware of those accusations until recently when her children spoke out.
It is unclear what prompted the alleged victims to come forward now.
A 3rd Boy Comes Forward About Sexual Abuse By The Florida Boy Scouts Executive
Police say the third victim is a friend of the two brothers. The arrest report states Larsen engaged the boy in encounters that made him feel uncomfortable. Larsen ignored his pleas to stop and continued abusing the boy. The third boy also said Larsen began abusing him when he was eight years old.
It is unknown if the alleged victims were or are Boy Scouts themselves. Police also did not disclose their current ages.
Detectives believe there could be more victims because of Larsen’s standing in the community.
Authorities say they learned about the defendant’s high-ranking position in the scouting organization during the course of their investigation. Larsen is a district executive for the Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America in Lake County, and his name and title appears on literature on the group’s website.
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